On your first Christmas Eve...

Dear Mason,

You are dreaming while napping in my lap after a mid-afternoon snack.  Today was your first Christmas Eve.  We are so enjoying the holidays with you baby boy.  Yesterday we went to Grandma & Grandpa K's house because Santa left you a bunch of presents there.  We ate a delicious breakfast and then made quick work of present-opening.  You were actually much more interested in opening them than we anticipated.  You enjoyed ripping, poking, scraping, throwing, and even licking the wrapping paper.  We couldn't believe how patiently you sat while everyone else opened their gifts.  Tomorrow we will head to Narrowsburg to spend Christmas with Grandma & Grandpa T.  Saturday we will meet up with the Eicks there to celebrate with them.

You love our Christmas tree; Great-Grandpa John's artificial tree looks great in our living room.  You enjoy feeling the branches and trying to grab the ornaments.

You are two days away from turning 8 months old.  You aren't crawling yet but love to walk and stomp while someone holds you by your arms.  You make all kinds of sounds; /d/, /t/, /b/, /m/, /w/, etc.  You have become a real momma's boy and tend to cry whenever I leave the room.  Much to your delight your diet has become more varied; along with the steadfast breast milk base, you now eat a nice little rotation of fruits and veggies, along with water in your sippy cup.  12 month clothing is starting to get quite snug as you continue to grow before our eyes.  Tags and textures are your new favorites as you love to feel everything with your pointer fingers.

This year I only bought you a few small gifts.  I knew that you would get a bunch from our families but I also thought since you wouldn't really understand too much this year that I would do something special with the money I would have spent on your Xmas loot.  I adopted a family where I work that is less fortunate than us.  They have three children; a 12 year old girl, 7 year old boy, and a 4 year old girl.  Part of your Christmas gift is that you gave these children gifts to open on Christmas morning.  That's pretty special little one.

Mason, you are the most special gift in our lives.  You have been a source of constant joy and love.  I don't think I knew how much I could love someone until you came into my life.  Your smile and hugs melt my heart.  My Christmas wish for you is that you continue to grow happily and healthily into the little boy you are destined to be.  I am so blessed to be your mom.

I love you sweet boy.
Forever & a Day,

Mom

My 6 month old Hurricane & the Actual Hurricane

It's hard to believe, but we've now been home from school for a FULL week due to the destruction and havoc caused by Hurricane Sandy.  Monday-Tuesday the hurricane arrived with heavy rains and unbelievably strong winds.  I prayed  that our HUGE hemlock would stand strong and not fall on our home.  We were incredibly lucky; we never lost power or cable.  Thousands in our county & millions in the tri-state area were not so lucky.  Power was lost, trees fell, wires were down, and many lives were lost.  Both our schools closed all 5 days this week.  The devastation was easily seen as you drove around the county (on what roads were not closed).  So many trees uprooted, so much damage, and much rebuilding to be done.  I am thankful that our family is safe.  Both of our parents lost power & had a few downed trees but no damage.  I am thinking of my students and hoping that their homes are safe and warm, and they've had access to food and clean water.  I'm sure many of them were bummed as the towns literally cancelled Halloween.

So with 5 days at home with our little man, we savored SO much time to spend together.  (Which of course led to me taking an inordinate amount of photos).  Mason is now 6 months old and IN. TO. EVERYTHING.  He is sitting almost independently.  He no longer reaches for things; but grabs, hits, smacks, and slams things all over the place.  He is making /b/ /w/ /p/ /t/ and /d/ sounds which is so fun to listen to.  Mase is now eating green beans and we will continue to introduce more vegetables and eventually fruits.  He continues to nurse; we are happy to have made it to the 6 month mark and plan to continue.  He weighs in at a hefty 20 lbs, is 28 3/4" long, and is transitioning into 12 mo clothes.  He sure seems to be following his cousin Frankie's growth pattern.  

Mase on Halloween

naptime buddies

My little stomper

not so sure about green beans!

Photo Post: Frankie Turns 1

Sunday we celebrated the 1st birthday of a very special boy :)  Frank turns 1 on Wednesday & we had a blast partyin' for the occasion.

it's tough to get these 2 in a photo

too.much.partying.

FUN TO BE 1!!

Three special kiddos <3

5 months!

I can't believe that it's been five months since our baby boy arrived.  Lately, it seems Mason is learning and doing new things almost daily.  He is developing such a personality and we are enjoying this stage so, so much.

Mason is::
--Sleeping in his big boy crib now!!  We transitioned him about a month ago & he's done quite well.  It was harder on me than it was on him.
--Starting to "pet" Roxy & Riley.  He can see them so clearly & follows their movements with his eyes/head.  He reaches out to them & kind of smacks them around a bit.  Both pets have been wonderful with him.
--Teething in a BIG way.  He has a tooth coming in & he is chomp, chomp, chomping on his poor little fists.
--Shaking his head 'no.'  He recently discovered he can willingly move his head side to side.  He also discovered that people seem to love it & laugh, smile, & coo at him when he does it.  So he does it a lot!
--Only a pound or two away from size 4 diapers, I fear.  He is growing so very quickly!
--Eating oatmeal!!

asleep in his boba

trying to eat his feet in his bumbo

Time marches on....

He Eats!!

We were trying to hold out on feeding Mason anything but breast milk until 6 months.  However, he has started showing signs of being VERY interested in/ready for eating, so we decided 5 months was close enough.  Mason has great control of his head.  He started grabbing objects & bringing them toward his mouth.  He also started watching us eat & opening his mouth.  Due to the recent recalls and warnings about arsenic in rice products, we decided to go with a single grain, organic oatmeal as the first "solid."  We mixed 1 tablespoon of oatmeal with about an ounce of breast milk & voila, Mason's first big boy meal :o)  He did quite well with it.  He didn't spit too much back out at me & didn't spit up afterwards, so we're calling it a success!!

Our little baby is growing up!!

Play Day with Kylie

Since we had Yom Kippur off, Alicia & I decided it would be a perfect opportunity for our little ones to get together for another play date.  The last time we saw Kylie, she was 4 months & Mason was 2 months.  Now, Kylie is 7 months and Mason is 5 months.  We had a great time playing inside on a very dreary, rainy day.  

Here's the cuties:  

And we're off to school!

September means back to school!!  Well, we (I should say I) survived Mason's first week at daycare.  John & I returned to school last Tuesday.  Mase spent Tuesday & Wednesday with my Dad and Thursday & Friday with Pam.  He did wonderfully.  I cried hysterically.  Ha!  The first day was so heart-wrenching.  I never thought I would cry so hard.  It just goes against every instinct I feel as a mother to leave my baby- even though I knew I was leaving him with family or someone I really trust.  Mason LOVES watching the other kids at Pam's house and I like that he's getting so much love & attention with my Dad on Wednesdays.  Overall he's adjusting just fine.  As for me, it's getting a little better everyday.  I have cried every morning (poor Amanda Sue had to hear the worst of it on Tuesday bright & early, what a good friend).  But this week, I haven't cried at all so I'm adjusting.

This weekend we celebrated Mason's Grandma T's birthday and he also got to meet his great-grandparents (my mom's parents) for the first time.  It was a special weekend to say the least. 



Driving with Grandma T



Mason & Great-Grandma & Great-Grandpa Rafferty



4 Generations

Dear Little one [4]

Dear Mason,

I am typing this with one hand as you lay peacefully sleeping on my lap after eating.  You are 17 weeks old today.  We have had an incredible four months together.  My maternity leave/summer with you & Daddy has come to a speedy and unwelcome end.  We have just returned from a lovely mini vacay with the Tenbus family down in Delaware, where you had your first experience "swimming."

not too impressed with the pool

You have met and spent time with so many family and friends over the past few months.  You've gotten to play with your cousins Emma & Frank several times.  You have a very cute little friendship blossoming with your gal pal Addison who we've gotten to see a bunch this summer.  Countless visits with both sets of grandparents have you very, very spoiled with so much love and attention.  You were baptized on my birthday surrounded by friends and family.  It was by far the most special birthday I've had.  We have sooo many more wonderful memories to make together.

What you're doing/learning now:
--Controlling your arms/hands; grasping objects, holding on to mommy's chest while you eat.
--Giggling.  It has to be something really funny or new; but when you let loose that little chuckle it makes Daddy & I smile till our cheeks hurt.
--Discovering your feet.
--Thumb-sucking...you are starting to do this more & more since you've gained control of your arms/hands.  You soothe yourself when you first wake-up & that suck-suck sound lets me know you're ready to eat!
--Sitting/Playing in your Exersaucer
--Yelling REALLY loud.  You recently discovered you can make your little voicebox project at oh-so-very-high levels.
--STTN; this is mommy blog jargon for sleeping through the night.  As long as you get a bath, lotion, a sleepsack, & nurse, you will sleep from 830ish until 5.  It is a beautiful thing & I hope you continue to sleep so well.
--Standing with support

Mase, I am so very sad to return to work and give up my days with you.  I am trying to remind myself that I'm doing it for you so that we can continue to provide you with the best life possible.  But it's hard to remember that when all I can think about is how much I'm going to miss you!  You will be spending Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays with Pam; who is a wonderful & caring childcare provider that you spent a few days with this summer.  Wednesdays will be your special days with Grandpa K.  I know that you will be well looked after all week long.  I have built up quite the breastmilk freezer stash (about 250 ounces) & plan to pump a few times a day at work, so you can continue to enjoy your mommy's milk even though we're apart.  I do plan to nurse you at drop-off & pick-up time if it works for us.

what I did on my summer vacation lol

<3

Upcoming things to look forward to?  Celebrating Grandma Tenbus' birthday over labor day weekend, a quick visit with Auntie Amanda & Uncle George, and a few jewish holidays home with Mommy after school starts up!!

Love you little one.
Forever & A Day,

Mommy

Dear Life, I need a pause button.

Lately Mason has been such a happy, alert, and engaging baby.  He is all smiles.  He recognizes his mommy & daddy.  He laughs.  He follows you with his eyes.  Today, he was especially happy while eating.  He kept looking at me and smiling (which made eating a very long process).  Nursing sessions like that are honestly amongst the most beautiful and sweet moments of my life.

Getting sleepy but had to keep one eye open
 to make sure I wasn't going anywhere

hi blue eyes 

my sweet, sweet boy

So please life, can't we just pause here for awhile?!?

Cousins Weekend

This weekend the Eicks rolled into Narrowsburg for a weekend of cousin playtime.  We spent Friday & Saturday chasing a 3 1/2 year old, 9 month old, & 12 week old around (well actually we didn't really have to chase the 12 week old around too much!).  Friday we were stuck inside as it was rainy & chilly.  Saturday we enjoyed the day outside playing on the deck & swimming.  On Saturday, my sisters and the Ursich family also stopped by to catch this trio in action.

Frankie, Emma, & Mason
"Cousins are our first best friends."

Frankie & Uncle John

Only about 6 months apart, these two are gonna be best buddies!!

The godfatha!

Mase taking a nap with Aunt Jess

this wiffle ball was a big hit

attempting a group cousins shot is interesting

We are stoked that we get to get the kids together again for Mason's Baptism in two weeks and also for a mini vacation to the beach in Delaware in late August.